Jesus and Zaccheus
1 When Jesus entered Jeri cho and was go ing through the city,
2 a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man.
3 He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see be cause of the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zac cheus, come down quickly for I must stay at your house today.”
6 So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.
7 All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest.”
8 But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, “The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.”
9 Looking at him Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham.
10 The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
The ten pounds
11 Jesus was now near Jeru salem and the people with him thought that God’s reign was about to appear. So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable.
12 He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return.
13 Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. He said: ‘Put this money to work until I get back.’
14 But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
15 He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made.
16 The first came in and reported: ‘Sir, your pound has earned ten more.’
17 The master replied: ‘Well done, my good servant. Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.’
18 The second reported: ‘Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.’
19 The master replied: ‘Right, take charge of five cities.’
20 The third came in and said: ‘Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping.
21 I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
22 The master replied: ‘You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow!
23 Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could have collected it with interest?’
24 Then the master said to those standing by: ‘Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.’
25 They objected: ‘But, sir, he already has ten!’
26 ‘I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
27 As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.’”
Jesus enters Jerusalem
28 So Jesus spoke, and he went on ahead of them, on his way to Jerusalem.
29 When he drew near to Beth phage and Bethany, close to Mount Olivet, he sent two of the disciples with these instructions,
30 “Go to the village opposite and as you enter it you will find a colt tied up that no one has yet ridden: untie it and bring it here.
31 And if anyone says to you: ‘Why are you untying this colt?’ You shall give this answer: ‘The Master needs it.’”
32 So the two disciples went and found things just as Jesus had said.
33 As they were untying the colt, the owner said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 And they an swered, “The Master needs it.”
35 So they brought it to Jesus and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they mounted Jesus on it.
36 And as he went down, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When Jesus came near Je ru salem, at the place where the road slopes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen,
38 and they cried out, “Blessed is he who comes as king in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and Glory in the highest heavens.”
39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Master, rebuke your disciples.”
40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if they were to remain silent, the stones would cry out.”
41 When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it
42 and said, “If only today you knew the ways of peace! But now your eyes are held from seeing.
43 Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side.
44 And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your God.”
45 Then Jesus entered the Tem ple area and began to drive out the merchants.
46 And he said to them, “God says in the Scriptures: My house shall be a house of prayer: but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”
47 Jesus was teaching every day in the Temple. The chief priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill him and the elders of the Jews as well,
48 but they were unable to do anything, for all the people were listening to him and hanging on his words.
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Comments Luke, Chapter 19
• 19.1 Everyone in Jericho was pointing a finger at Zaccheus: how could a man involved in dirty deals, (like he was) be converted? What punishment would God send to him? Instead of punishing him, God comes to his home.
Jesus shows that he is guided by the Spirit when he spots Zaccheus among so many people, and when he understands at that very moment, that on that day he has come to Jericho, above all, to save a rich man.
Zaccheus knows that he is the object of envy and hatred. He is not all bad: although his hands are dirty, he has not lost the sense of what is good and he admires the proph et Jesus sec retly. God is able to save him because of his good desires. The favor Jesus does to him compels him to manifest the human and good qualities hidden in him.
It is said that he received Jesus joyfully: a joy that shows the transformation that has taken place in him. After that, he will have no trouble in rectifying his evil deeds. Then he will share and reestablish justice.
The people are indignant, and in that they imitate the Pharisees; they believe that the prophet Jesus should share their prejudice and even their resentments. Jesus is not a demagogue; the crowd’s lack of understanding does not matter to him any more than that of the Pharisees. Once again, Jesus shows his power; he destroys evil by saving the sinner.
• 11. Galileans go to Jeru salem to celebrate the Pass over and Jesus goes with them. He knows that death awaits him: they, nonetheless, are convinced that he will be proclaimed king and liberator of Israel.
In his parable Jesus invites them to hold onto another hope. He will rule on his return from a faraway land (his own death) at the end of history. Meanwhile, his people are in charge of riches, which he has given them and which they must multiply. They should not wait in idleness for his return, since his enemies will take advantage of his absence to strug gle against his influence. Jesus’ servants will participate in his triumph to the degree that they have worked.
This page is closely connected with the parable of the talents (Mk 25:14). Two differences are pointed out in what follows.
For one thing, in the introduction and in the conclusion Jesus refers to his country’s political life. The country depended on the Roman Empire and its kings had to be acceptable to the Roman government that protected them.
On the other hand, the parable insists on God’s justice: everyone receives according to his merit. Heavenly happiness is not something that can be distributed equally. Everyone will know God and will share his riches to the degree that one has been able to love throughout life. Every step we take by way of obedience, sacrifice and humility, develops our capacity to receive God and to be transformed by him.